The State of California: Newsom To Release House Of Worship Reopen Plan

<iframe src="https://kcbsradio.radio.com/%3Ca%20href%3D"https://omny.fm/shows/kcbsam-on-demand/the-state-of-california-governor-newsoms-plans-to/embed">https://omny.fm/shows/kcbsam-on-demand/the-state-of-california-governor-..." width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0" title="The State of California: Governor Newsom's Plans to Continue Reopening"></iframe>Governor Gavin Newsom said Friday he would issue new guidelines for houses of worship to open safely, but probably not in time for this Sunday. The Governor is under increasing federal pressure to let religious services resume. The U.S. Department of Justice told Governor Newsom he may be unconstitutionally restricting religious worship by letting stores and factories reopen before churches. Now President Trump is threatening to override governors who don’t reopen houses of worship this weekend.

“The governors need to do the right thing and allow these very important, essential places of faith to open, right now,” said Trump in a news conference.

But at a COVID-19 briefing at the state veteran’s home in Yountville, Governor Newsom said he’s not ready to that, but he’s close with new rules in the works for religious gatherings to resume safely.

“We’ve been working on those guidelines and we’re just days away,” said Newsom, “at the latest on Monday we’ll put out those guidelines.”

The irony is that Newsom was raised Catholic and went to Catholic schools, while Trump has never been especially religious. Newsom says this is about ensuring public safety, not trampling on religious freedom.

“We deeply respect and admire the faith, devotion, and the cause that unites millions of Californians,” said Newsom, “at a time of so much anxiety and uncertainty, faith and that devotion to something higher and better and bigger than yourself becomes even more pronounced and more important.”